Is it never too early to start studying for the MCAT?

Question

Is it wise to study the MCAT material you learn after taking each of your science courses in undergrad? Is starting in your freshman year a waste?

What is the best method of studying and obtaining the highest score possible? Has anyone here had the experience of taking the MCAT and going through the studying process?

Answer 1

I started studying WAY too early. I signed up for a kaplan course 7 months before my exam and was about to go crazy from it before the exam. Each person is different so I think the best thing to do is take a practice exam a few months before the actual test and see how well you do. If you're a good test taker you may not have to study as hard as a bad test taker like myself. You should start "studying" your freshman year by trying to understand the material as best as possible because learning the second time is much easier if you had a good grasp on it the second time. Personally, the kaplan course was a waste of time and money. The books were huge and there was no way I was going to keep all of that information in my head...too many facts! I found the Exam Kracker series a month before the exam and my score went up immediately! They're not very thick but they don't beat around the bush~just tell you what you need to know and nothing more. They may not work for everyone, but they were a lifesafer to me! The only advice that works for everyone is to take as many practice tests as you can before the exam. Most of the questions have similar patterns from test to test and if you take enough you'll be able to answer the questions correctly and at a faster rate. Good luck!

Answer 2

You should probably start studying months beforehand, but not years. That's pointless, and you'll eventually get sick of it and forget things you've been studying.

The best method of study is lots of practise and engaging with the material. Pick up a book with examples and stuff, maybe exam crackers and other available books. Study the material and make sure you engage with it, maybe share the knowledge and things you learn with someone else; this helps you remember it. Test yourself on this knowledge a day or two afterwards to identify your problem spots. Concentrate on those the most.

But just keep doing practice similar to actual MCAT questions. The MCAT isn't very difficult, but the questions are designed to make you pick the wrong answer if you're not careful. Here, here is an example of a trick question:

Answer this quickly

1. Do you know how much two plus two is?
A 3
B 4
C 5
D Yes
E None of the above

If you said B, or possible E you fell for the trap. It's D. Read the question again. The MCAT is littered with tricks that are psychologically similar to this one. The only way to get around it is to practice the methodology so you're prepared, because when it comes to the crunch, and if you havn't studied enough, that time limit is going to get to you, pressuring you to pick the wrong answer.

Exams like this purposely use 'trap' questions to eliminate people. There is only a certain number of people a medical program can accept, so they design the questions such that a certain portion of the population will misread it and answer it incorrectly.

However, not all the questions are traps, and one must be able to distinguish between a trap question and a non trap question if you want to break ~35 on the MCAT. ( As a general hint, trap questions are usually shorter or longer than normal). Generally a lot of the MCAT questions are just factoids you're going to have to remember, too. But it is always wise to read each of the choices very carefully before proceeding.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I would start studying for that as early as possible. The better score you recieve, the more chances you have at landing a position at a really good hospital or doctor's office. I don't think that starting to study in your freshman year is a waste. I think the more preparing you do the better off you will be.

Answer 4

You don't need to know yet. Go to a college with an undergraduate program you'll like and a pre-medical advising program. Once you're there you'll have 2.5 years to prepare and your adviser will tell you everything you need to know.

Answer 5

Yes